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PQKl-RCHER.

CRIBBINGl APPLICATION FILED sEPT.20,19III.

' l ,3 1 2,33 1 Patented Aug. 5, 191) 3 SHEETSSHEET l. ff I, @a

P-l KIRCHER. GRIBB'ING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.20. 1918.

Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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P. KIRCHER.

' Patented Aug. 5,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

- UNITED sTATEs `PATENT oEEicE.4

PAUL KIBCHEB., 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO MASSEY CONCRETE PRODUCTS CORPORATION, A CORPORATION 0F VIRGINIA.

CRIBBING'.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

Application led September 20, 1918. Serial No. 254,909.

To all 'whom t may` concern Be it known that I, PAUL KIRCHER, a citizen-of the United States, residingl at Chicago, in the county of Cook and 'Statev of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Cribbing, of which f cribbing which may be easily manufactured in a suitable factory and erected at any desired locality, the cribbing being formed of a plurality of interchangeable elements of such size and shape that they can be erected or positioned by a comparatively few men.

The objects of my invention are: 4 First: To provide a cribbing of the character described, which will be strong, require n'special foundation, and possess inherent stability;

Secon/d: To provide a cribbing of the character described which "can be rapidly erected without the use of special equipment;

Third: To provide a cribbing comprising headers, stretchers, anda llers, in which the stretchers and fillers are interlocked with the ends of the headers, and in which the ends of the headers and the outer faces of l the fillers all lie in substantially the same kline4.-4ofFigs.2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is an isometricview of the interchangeable header which I employ, in con-f structing my improved cribbing; l

Fig. 6 is a similar view of an interchangeable filler or stretcher used in constructin the retaining wall of the cribbing;

Fig. 7 is an isometric view of a filler used 5b between the rear ends of the headers;

lar to the stretchers 15 employed in the front Fig. 8 isa fragmentary isometric view-of cribbing constructed in accordance with my invention, portions thereof vbeing broken away to disclose the manner in which the ends of the stretchers and fillers interlock 6( with the adjacent ends of the headers;

Fig. 9 is an isometric view of a special form of header; and

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are isometric views of special forms ofl fillers used with the special header shown in Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings, and for the present to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusivethe retaining wall of my improved cribbing is formed of the stretchers 15 and the fillers 16 which are alternately arranged to form a vertical tier. The ends of these stretchers and fillers are provided with means, which will be presently described, for interlocking with 75 are arranged ima vertical tier extending at the adjacent ends of the headers 17 which an angle to the tier of stretchers and headers.

From an inspection of Fig. 3l it will be.. noted that I employ headers of various lengths, the lengths of the headers decreasing as the top of the cribbing is approached. The reason for this construction is well known to `those skilled in this art and `need c szsA not be herein explained. It is suflc'ent to state that I prefer to ,make the len h of the lower headers approximately forty per cent.r of the height ofthe completed cribbing. The rear ends of the headers 17 are spaced vertically by means of fillers 16', which will be described in detail later on, and spaced horizontally by means of the stretchers 15", which are in all respects simior retaining wall.

Referring now to Figi. 5 and 6, the header 17 comprises a beamli e body member 18,

which is provided at each end with a cruciform head'formed by the vertically extending stretchers used in the retaining wall and at they rear ends of theheaders, and nalso t e shape of the filler used in thLe'retaini It is merelythe shape of abeam, pre era'bly' of rectan lar cross section, having a rabbet 21 at `eac endthereof which forms the inter- Y locking' lug' 22.

Referring now to Fig". 8"; it willbe seen ll lugs 19 and the laterally extending 100 6 discloses the shape of both -the that the rabbets at the ends of the stretchers receive the laterally extending lugs 20 of the headers 17, and that the lugs 22 formed by the rabbets 21 interlock with thev lugs of the headers. It will also be seen that the rabbets 21 in the ends of the llers 16 receive the vertically extending lugs 19 of the ends of two adjacent headers, and that the lugs 22 of the fillers interlock with the same two lugs of these headers.

The stretchers 15 at the rear end of the headers interlock with the lugs 20 of the headers in the same manner in which they interlock with these lugs at the Ifront ends of the headers. ends of the headers differ in shape and in length from those used in the retaining wall. One of these fillers is shown in Fig. 7 They are preferably rectangular in cross section but are considerably shorter than the fillers used in the retaining wall, being of just surlcient length to project slight y from each side of the headers. At substantially the Acenter of -these fillers they are provided with a transverse groove or rabbet 23 which receives the vertically extendinglugs of the rear ends of two adjacent headers. These fillers are made short, as described above, for the purpose of allowing earth to infiltrate between the stretchers 15, so as to fill the space between the retainin wail and the rear stretcher-s, the weight of t is earth serving to hold the stretchers and fillers in position against the lugs forming the heads of the headers. Another purpose in making these illers comparatively short is that of conserving material.

By referring to Figs. 1 and 3 it will be noted that the header 17 is considerably thicker in vertical direction than the remaining headers. The purpose in enlarging the v vertical dimension of this header is to enable it to carry the load imposed thereon by reason of the fact that all of the stretchers and fillers at the rear ends of the header by the latter header at a point intermediate its ends; The use of this special header at this point requires the use of special fillers in both the retaining wall and at the rear end of this header and the header immediately above it. -A

In Fig. 9 I have illustrated this special header, and in Fig..10 I have illustrated the 'special filler lfwhich is used in connection with this header in the retaining wall. It will be noted that this filler is in all respects similar to the remaining fillers in the retaining wall except that the lugs 22 are cut away at the points-24 to provide notches or rabbets for receiving the upper and lower edges of the special filler. I/n use the filler engaging the lower side of th' special header will be in the position shown in Fig. 10,- that is, with the notches 24F on the upper The fillers used at the rear side dof the illerf-but when this filler is used to engage the upper side of the special header it will be reversed,-that is, with the notches 24 at the lower side thereof.

In Fig. 11 I have illustrated a special filler 25 to be used at the rear end of the special header 17 This filler differs from the liller shown in F ig. 7, in that it is pro` vided with an additional rabbet or groove 25 for receiving the lower edge ofthe special header.

In Fig. 12 I have illustrated a special filler 26 to lbe placed between the special header 17 and the header immediately above it. V rabbet 27 for receiving the downwardly projecting lug 19 of the header immediately above it. This filler rests upon the upper edge of the special filler` 17.

While the separate elements of my improved cribbing may be made of any suitable material, I prefer to make them of concrete, reinforced if desired, as this material is not subject to decay, is strong and easily and cheaply manufactured in the desired shapes. My improved cribbing is very practical in that the parts thereof are interchangeable, and for the reason that these parts may be used for constructing cribbing' of any desired length or height. It is not only very easy to erectl a retaining wall by the use of my cribbing, but it is also just as easy to remove the cribbing where it is only desired to be kept in place temporarily. As a permanent structure it is superior to the Wooden structures heretofore employed forthis purpose, for the reason that it is not subject to decay.

While I have described the preferred embodiment of myimproved cribbing, it is to be understood that -it is capable of other adaptations and modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my inventionwhat I claim is 17 lymg above the header '17 are carried 1. In a cribbing the combination with a plurality of headers arranged in ay vertical- This filler is provided with a` tier, each endvof'said headers being provided with laterally and vertically extending lugs forming cruciform heads, of a plurality of stretchers and fillers alternately arranged in tiers at both sides of one end of said tier of headers and extending at an angle thereto, the said stretchers being provided with rabbets and lugs for interlocking with the laterally projecting lugs of said headers, the

said fillers being provided with rabbets and.

lugs for interlocking with' the vertically extending lugs on said headers, a plurality of stretchers arranged in tiers at both sides` of the other end of said tier of headers -and provided with rabbets and lugs interlocking with the laterally extending lugs at the last l named end of said headers, and relatively short fillersinterposed between said last named stretchers and provided with grooves for receiving the vertically extending lugs of said headers.

2. In a cribbing the combination with a plurality of headers arranged in a vertical tier, one end of said headers being provided with laterally and vertically extending lugs forming crueiform heads, of a plurality of stretchers and fillers alternately arranged in tiers at bot-h sides of said tier of headers and extending at an angle thereto, the said fillers being provided With rabbets and lugs for interlocking with .the vertically extending lugs on said headers.

3. In a cribbing the combination with a plurality of headers arranged in a vertical tier, one end of said headers being provided with laterally and vertically extending lugs forming cruciform heads, of a plurality of stretchers and fillers alternately arranged in a tier, the said llers being provided With rabbets and lugs for interlocking with the vertically extending lugs on said headers.

ILA cribbing comprising a plurality of headers arranged in a vertical tier and provided at one end With vertically and laterally extending lugs, a plurality 0f stretchers and fillers alternately arranged in a tier at one side of said tier of headers and extending at an angle thereto, the ends of saidl stretchers and `fillers adjacent said tier of headers being provided With rabbets and lugs for interlocking with the laterally and vertically extending lugs of said headers respectively.

:5. A cribbing comprising a plurality of j headers arranged in a vertical tier and provided at one end With lugs extending from the sides thereof, a plurality of .stretchers and fillers alternately arranged in a tier at one side of said tier of headers and extending at an angle thereto` the ends of said stretchers and fillers adjacent said tier of headers being provided With rabbets and lugs for interlocking with the lugs of said' headers respectively.

6. A cribbing comprising a plurality ofy the outer faces of said stretchers andlfillers forming a flush surface.

7. A cribbing comprising a plurality of headers arranged in a vertical tier, a plurality of stretchers and fillers alternately arranged in a tier adjacent said tier of headers, the ends of said stretchers and fillers being provided With lugs interlocking With lugs formed on the adjacent ends of said headers. A j

8. A cribbing comprising a plurality of headers arranged in a vertical'tier, and a plurality of stretchers and fillers alternately arranged in a second tier, and provided at one end With .means formed integrally therewith for interlocking With the adjacent ends of said headers, the outer ends of said headers and the outer faces of said stretchers and fillers lying in the same plane.y v

9. AA cribbing comprising a plurality of headers arranged in a vertical tier, and a plurality of stretchers and fillers alternately arranged in a second tier, and provided at one end With integrally formed means for interlocking with the adjacent ends of said headers.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 3d day of September, 1918. PAUL KIRCHER., Witnesses:

FANNY ELIN, A. V. AHERN. 

